Sports

First shift on the south coast

Waterford's Derek McCormick doesn't mince words when talking about the Canadian Tire First Shift Program.

McCormick's two children took part in last year's event in Simcoe, which sees kids from the ages of 6-10 not previously registered in hockey get outfitted from head to toe in Bauer gear before six on-ice sessions with qualified instructors in an effort to get more youngsters involved in the game. The cost is set at $199.

“Highly recommend it,” McCormick said. “You're not running around trying to find skates, trying to find equipment. You get all brand new equipment that's fitted to them. It gives them good exposure to learning the sport.”

Canadian Tire First Shift will return to Norfolk in November, this time in Port Dover. Registration is still open and children wishing to join with their local minor hockey programs afterwards are able to do so.

“We got so many emails from parents (last year) saying that their kids absolutely loved it,” said Ryan VandenBussche, a former NHLer, Port Dover Minor Hockey coach and supporter of the First Shift through his charity Stix'N'Pix.

Count the McCormicks in that group. For their kids, even the fitting was something to look forward to.

According to Bauer statistics, 86 percent of children that take part in the process go a step further, many times registering for minor hockey.

That's music to the ears of VandenBussche, who played professionally from 1993-2007, including time spent with the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

“Part of a childhood is not only going to school and meeting friends there but learning what it takes to be a team member of some sort whether it be in basketball, football or hockey,” he said.

“Hockey, I think, is the best sport in the world and I wouldn't have what I have today if it wasn't for hockey and I'm not saying that because I played in the NHL. Even if I didn't play in the NHL there's a lot of buddies I grew up with playing minor hockey with in Delhi that I'm still friends with today and you work with and visit with today and it's all because of hockey.”

VandenBussche – a father of two - went on to say that the game instills things like structure, discipline, accountability and the knowledge that hard work pays off.

“Those are the characteristics you want to teach your kids growing up and that's what you get out of sport,” he said. “That's why I'm a big believer in sports.”

Any family wishing to register can visit thefirstshift.ca or call Lisa Girard, active living coordinator at Norfolk County at lisa.girard@norfolkcounty.ca.